“There is a difference between excellence and perfection. Excellence allows for growth, and perfection doesn’t.” – Dr. Kathy Koch
How can we have a Biblical worldview to be Godly influences and promote the kingdom in our kids? Dr. Kathy Koch provides insight and wisdom in her 3-part series on our podcast. Here are the three concepts we should learn to promote God’s kingdom in our children!
5 Core Needs
In part 1 of the series, Dr. Kathy shares how we have 5 core needs:
- security (our security in Christ)
- identity (who we are in Christ)
- belonging (we are a child of the King)
- purpose (we were specifically designed by a magnificent creator)
- competence (we can accomplish that which the Lord made us for).
When we are secure in these needs ourselves, we can infuse those same securities into our children. In a world deplete of these foundations, it’s important that we instruct and embed these 5 core needs into our families. One way we can do this is to model these truths in our words and actions. It’s said that behavior is caught more than it is taught. We can instill these Biblical beliefs in our children’s hearts by living them out in our everyday lives. Praying with our children when we wake up, before a meal, and before bedtime are just a couple of examples!
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, “These commandments that I give to you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframe of your houses and on your gates.”
8 Great Smarts
In part 2, Dr. Kathy elaborates on 8 smarts (parts of the brain) that every person has:
- word smart
- logic smart
- picture smart
- music smart
- body smart
- nature smart
- people smart
- self-smart
When we understand these smarts, we can recognize how our children learn best. Each child is gifted uniquely by our Heavenly Father. Some suggestions Dr. Kathy has in discovering these smarts is to pay attention to their play. What are they interested in? What do they always gravitate to? Try different things with them and play with them. If your child loves playing with Legos and putting the designs together, this displays logic smart. If your child loves listening to music and singing, this displays – you guessed it – music smart!
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“
Overcome “Perfection Infection”
In part 3, Dr. Kathy discusses overcoming the “perfection infection.” As parents, we can hold high expectations and standards for our kids without asking for perfection. We aren’t perfect and neither are our children. They were made in the image of God. Psalm 139:14 says, I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. In teaching our children, we want them to learn to do their best and to strive for excellence, not perfection. “Excellence allows for growth, perfection does not,” says Dr. Kathy. As children grow, develop, and mature, we can help mold in them a desire for excellence in their studies, sports, activities, and relationships, and in those to ultimately bring glory to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
With school beginning our kids are learning new lessons each day. Let’s be students as well, studying our kids so that we can learn from them and about them. Celebrate the beautiful gifts of your children each day and don’t forget to enjoy the journey as well.
